Student meant to take her life — (Watford Observer)

Watford Observer

Tuesday, 6 May 2003

A STUDENT was found dead at her hall of residence after taking an overdose, an inquest heard.

Vagna Gardarsdottir, 29, a PhD student at Goldsmiths College, New Cross, was due to return to her native Iceland for Christmas, but when she failed to arrive on a pre-booked flight her parents alerted international police organisation, Interpol.

Miss Gardarsdottir was found in her room in Dean House, New Cross Road, on Christmas Eve last year by the police.

PC Ben Deacon said: “I climbed through the window and saw the body in her bed. There was an empty suitcase, empty bottles of vodka and 15 packets of anti-depressants all empty.”

Pathologist Dr David Rouse told Southwark Coroner’s Court that the cause of death was prescribed antidepressant poisoning.

He said: “She took at least 35 tablets at once.”

Faculty head Mary Bright said “There was no medical or psychological background. We give students the opportunity to list this but there was no trace.

“We first became aware when her sister told me she had made an attempt on her life five years ago. She clearly had problems of mental instability, but we have no record of her using our counselling service.”

Recording a verdict of suicide, coroner Selena Lynch said: “She hasn’t left a note but a very large quantity of pills and the locked door show she intended to take her life.